Benjamin and Philip would meet at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Neither had any living family members and so, the isolation and rigors of cadet life created an environment where they quickly became like brothers. They were brilliant young scholars . . . destined to graduate number one and number two in their class of 1862. But, in April of 1861, Fort Sumter happened and war loomed.
These two were not warriors by nature, but if their country called, they were prepared to fight . . . and fight hard. In a Civil War, however, that meant their two countries (North and South) were now sworn enemies - for Benjamin was a native Pennsylvanian and Philip hailed from Virginia. War was heart-breaking, but this would become the cruelest of them all because fate, being oblivious to common decency, would set these two "brothers" against each other.
Only one would survive the deadly contest. He would bury the other on the field of battle in hopes of retrieving his body at the conclusion of war . . .God willing. That is, once he found a way to remove the large white stone that had come to rest on top of the makeshift grave site.
